Electric wallpaper remover



March 30, 1954 J. E. LAWTON 2,673,918

ELECTRIC WALLPAPER REMOVER Filed Sept. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q W QINVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYE March 30, 1954 w oN 2,673,918

' ELECTRIC WALLPAPER REMOVER Filed Sept. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I o-g--- IN VEN TOR.

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ATTCI R N EYS Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNI TED S 'lA'l ES PATENT OFF-I CEELECTRIC WALLPAPER REMOVER .lerral' E. Lawton, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 6, 1951, Serial No. 245,396

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines and devices for removing wallpaperwherein the wallpaper issaturated with steam or th lilre, and inparticular, a steam applying device in which Wateris converted intosteam after it is applied to the wallpaper surface.

The purpose of this invention to eliminate the hazard of carrying livesteam through pipes or tubes to an applicator as a wallpaper removingdevice and thereby eliminate the possibility of burning the hands of theoperator and also the inconvenience of having excessive quantitiesof'live steam escaping around the device, and also eliminates the hazardof dangerous carbon monoxide fumes-oi all previous wallpaper removers.

"With the-conventional type of steam applying device live steam iscarried through tubes or pipes to a head or ejector and when leaksdevelop in-the tubing or the tube breaks the live steam burnstheoperator and is, therefore, dangerous. Inthe type of steam applicatorwherein steam is generated from water supplied by a small tank in thedevice, the quantity of water is not suihcient for continuous use suchas removing wallpaper and the like. With these thoughts mind thisinvention contemplates a steam applicator wherein an unlimited supply orwater is sprayed in small quantities directly against the wallpaper andsteam is instantly generated by the movement of the heated face plateover the dampened wall surface.

The object of the invention is therefore, to provide a wallpaper removerin which cold water is applied directly to the wallpaper where it isinstantly converted into steam by the passing of the'heated face plateover the dampened surface of wallpaper.

' Another object of'the invention is to provide a wallpaper remover inwhich the device is ready for immediate use as an electric cord extendedtherefrom is plugged into a socket for supplying current to the device.

Another object of the device is'to provide a wallpaper remover in whichthe possibility of fire from fuel required for heating the device isremoved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wallpaper remover-thatof light weight therebyfacilitating transportation. and operation and inwhich all outside parts are completely insulated from the heatingelements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wallpaper remover inwhich means is provided .for adjustably controlling the amount ofwatersprayed on the wallpaper.

vA still further object of the invention is to .provide an improvedwallpaper remover which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodiesa wallpaper remover comprising a substantially flat casinghaving electric heating elements therein, with the heating elementspositioned in close proximity to-a face plate in a cover, with a backingplate of insulating material and with a manually controlled water spraynozzle positioned to spray cold water against the wallpaper andconnected to means for supplying water under pressure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the improved wallpaper' removerhead.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section throughthe device taken on line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of thedevice.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the applicator taken on line d-E ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the control valve and spraynozzle showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the improved wallpaper remover of this inventionincludes a substantially flat casing [0, a face plate ii, a plurality ofelectric heating e1ements I2, l3 and M, a control valve l5'having aperforated cap It on the lower end providing a spray nozzle, and atrigger IT for actuating the valve stem 8.

The casing H3 is provided with a cover plate is of insulating materialand the plate I9 is'secured in position by cap screws 26. A continuousflange 2!, also of insulating material extends around the inner surfaceof the outer wall'of the casing Ill, as shown in Fig. 4.

The face plate ii is provided with a frustroconical shaped section 22 atthe center in which the nozzle is is positioned and the plate is held inthe casing by studs 23.

The electric heating elements l2, l3 and M are positioned directlyagainstthe face plate H and when current is supplied to these elementsthe face plate is heated to a dull red whereby water sprayed against thewall is instantly converted into steam.

Thecasing it is provided with a handle formed with'two sections it and25 andthe'sectionsare secured together by a bolt 25 which extendsthrough'the handle. The threaded end of the bolt isprovided with a not2?, as shown in Fig. 4. The sections of the handle are provided withflanges 28 and 29 through which the handle .is secured to the casing illby cap screwsSii.

The electric heating elements I2,'|3 and M are connected by bus bars 3ivandti to terminals, as indicated by the numerals t3 and 34, and .anelectric supply cord 35, which extends through the handle, is connectedto the terminals. The outer end of'the cord 35 is provided with aplug-35 and a hollow not 3? maybe provided in the handle, through whichthe cord extends, .as shown in -Figure'Z.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the body of the valve I5 is provided with avalve seat 38 against which a point on the lower end of the valve stemseats and the point is urged against the seat by a spring 40, the upperend of which is held by a cap 4| threaded on the upper end of the valvebody and the lower end by a pin 42 extended through the valve stem H3.The upper end of the valve body is provided with a packing gland 43 andthe gland is adjusted by a packing nut 44.

The lower end of the valve body is provided with a threaded section 45with a shoulder 46 at the end of the threaded section and the upper wall41 of the casing l0 and also the inner edge of the section 22 of theface plate H is held against the shoulder by a nut 49. A pin 49 isextended through a part of the face plate and casing and into the valvebody for retaining the parts in position in relation to the valve body.The valve body is also provided with a threaded nipple 50 on which thecap l6 having the perforations 5| therein is threaded.

The body of the valve I5 is also provided with a threaded opening 52into which a coupling nut 53 is threaded, also as shown in Fig. 5 and awater supply tube 54 extends from the nut 53 to means for supplyingwater under pressure. In the design shown the tube 54 extends throughthe handle mounted on the casing l0 and the end of the tube is providedwith a threaded coupling member 55.

It is preferred to extend the tube 54 to a water supply tank having ahand operated pressure pump therein and in which the tank is providedwith a pressure gauge and filling plug. By this means the air pressuremay be retained in the tank so that the water may be supplied atconstant pressure continuously.

The handle of the casing, which is formed by the parts 24 and 25 is alsoprovided with a thumb screw 56 that is threaded into a nut 51 positionedon the inner surface of the handle and these parts are located wherebythe inner end of the thumb screw engages the end of the valve stem l8 tolimit upward or opening movement of the valve stem whereby the amount ofwater sprayed through the spray nozzle is controlled.

The trigger H, which is positioned on the underside of the handle ispivotally mounted in the handle with a bolt 58 having a nut 59 on athreaded end thereof and the trigger which is formed of an arcuate sheetof material is connected to the valve It by a pin 69 which extendsthrough the sides of the trigger and through the stem. As the trigger isdrawn upwardly by the fingers of a hand gripping the handle the stem israised against the spring at whereby the valve is opened.

With the parts arranged in this manner cold water is sprayed directlyonto the wallpaper and instantly generated into steam by the passing ofelectrically heated face plate H over the wet surface of the wallpaper,whereby the paste or other adhesive is completely dissolved ordisintegrated so that it is freely removed by the operator with a puttyknife or other broad edged implement. If moisture only is required, adevice may be used as a spraying implement only with the electricfeature turned on.

It will be undertsood that modifications may be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wallpaper remover comprising a casing having a back with acontinuous flange, a face plate positioned in the casing and spacedinwardly from the edge of the flange providing an open area between theplate and a surface against which the edge of the flange is positioned,an electric heating element positioned against the inner surface of saidface plate, said face plate covering the entire area of the casing andsaid electric heating element covering substantially, the entire area ofthe face plate whereby a shallow heated area is provided over the faceplate of the casing, a water spray nozzle mounted in the casing andpositioned to spray water directly against the wallpaper, and a manuallycontrolled valve also positioned in the casing for controlling the flowof water to the spray nozzle.

2. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 1 wherein means is providedfor adjusting the opening movement of said control valve.

3. In a wallpaper remover, the combination which comprises acomparatively thin casing having a back and a continuous peripherialflange, a face plate having a frusto-conical shaped center sectionmounted in the casing and positioned with the outer surface thereofspaced inwardly from the edge of said peripherial flange, a plurality ofelectric heating elements positioned against the inner surface of saidface plate, a lining of insulating material positioned between saidelectric heating elements and casing, a valve mounted in the casing andhaving a spray nozzle on the end thereof positioned in thefrusto-conical shaped section of said face plate, a handle mounted onthe casing positioned over said valve and extended laterally toward oneside of the casing, a trigger pivotally mounted in the handle andpositioned to open the valve, resilient means urging the valve towardthe closed position, and means supplying water under pressure to saidvalve.

4. In a Wallpaperremover as described in claim 3, means adjusting theopening movement of said valve, for controlling the amount of wateradmitted to said spray nozzle.

5. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 3, wherein the means forurging the valve to the closed position includes a spring in the body ofthe valve.

6. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 3, wherein the valve isprovided with an extended valve stem and the handle is provided with athumb screw positioned to engage the end of the valve stem for limitingopening movement of the valve.

7. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 3, wherein the water supplymeans includes a tube extended through the handle and the electricheating elements are supplied with current by an electric cord extendedthrough said handle.

JERRAL E. LAW'ION.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 989,608 Jackson Apr. 18, 1911 1,518,320 Gates Dec. 9, 19242,137,876 Hudson Nov. 22, 1938 2,208,850 Mayer July 23, 1940 2,226,426Gallagher Dec. 24, 1940 2,281,819 Atkinson May 5, 1942 2,306,766 VanTries Dec. 29, 1942 2,612,586 Berarducci et al. Sept. 30, 1952

